Chapter 9

Alora's POV

“What?” Three voices exclaimed at once—Luca, Gianni, and me.

I glanced around the room, my eyes taking in the men, all staring at me with different looks on their faces. My pulse quickened. “What are you talking about?" This had to be some kind of prank, right? "Gianni, come on, you should’ve told me that the Mafia pulled these kinds of stunts on new people. This is serious! You all shouldn't mess with people's lives like this.” I laughed nervously, but my voice faltered when I realized no one else was laughing.

This couldn't be real. It was a joke... right?

The man carrying the item stepped forward, his expression stern as he spoke. “Boss, we found this in her room,” he said, holding up a glittering piece of jewelry. “It was hidden with her belongings in the back of the closet.”

“What do you mean by saying I’m the thief?” I stammered, trying to process the words. “What are you even talking about? I haven't even seen the closet yet. I don't even have dresses yet.”

Luca's gaze hardened as he turned to Dante. “I thought you said not to search people’s rooms without them being present. Why did they go to Alora's room?”

Dante’s eyes shifted from Luca to the man holding the jewelry. “You know the rules, Marco. No one searches a room without my permission.”

Marco’s posture stiffened. “I’m sorry, sir, but you said we shouldn't go to any family members room. Alora isn't family. She’s just a new worker, and we had to search her room.”

“You should’ve searched the maids’ quarters or the storage areas, not the rooms of people living here,” Gianni added, crossing his arms while glaring at Marco.

Marco shifted uncomfortably. “I understand that, sir Gianni, but I had orders to search the rooms of all workers. She's a worker.”

Their argument didn’t faze me. I just kept staring at the jewelry, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. “There’s no way I stole that,” I blurted out, my voice shaking. “Someone’s trying to frame me. You guys know that, right?” My mind raced, desperately trying to make sense of the situation. Could it be Bianca? Or maybe Dante himself? Maybe it was a test of my loyalty?

Gianni stepped in. “Dante, that's true. Alora didn’t steal anything. I don’t know how it ended up in her room, but—”

“Gianni, stay out of this!” Dante snapped, his voice cold. “I’ll handle it.” He took a step toward me, his gaze like ice. “Alora, explain to me how this ended up in your room.”

My brows furrowed as I struggled to find words. How could I possibly know how it got there? “I...I hadn’t even been to my room for hours,” I said helplessly, my voice barely a whisper.

Dante's dark gaze didn’t falter. I shivered as a chill ran down my spine.

Luca, sensing the increased tension, cut in, trying to defuse the situation. “Wait, let’s think this through. Dante, when did you realize it was missing?”

“This morning, a few hours after breakfast,” Dante replied, not taking his eyes off me.

“Exactly,” Luca continued, glancing at Dante. “Alora was on a date with me, and then she joined Gianni shortly after that. She hasn’t been anywhere near your office since then. How could she have stolen it?”

Dante’s expression tightened as he seemed lost in thought for a moment, then his eyes narrowed. “As much as I want to believe what you're saying, that’s not entirely true,” he said, his voice calm but deadly. “Alora has been to my office. Right after breakfast.”

My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. “I did go there, but you and Bianca were there too,” I said quickly, desperate to clear my name. “She came in while I was there.”

“Don’t even think about dragging Bianca into this,” Dante growled, his voice dripping with accusation. “Bianca left the office and went straight to the car to leave. She didn’t go anywhere else in the house, and I have proof. Now tell me the truth, Alora. How did this end up in your room?”

But I also left the office at that time. Why would he believe Bianca didn't steal it but I did?

My throat tightened as his words sank in. I looked at Gianni and Luca, both of whom seemed as lost as I was. “I don’t know,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I swear, I didn’t take it.”

Dante’s voice rose as he ordered sharply, “Everyone out. Now.” Luca and Gianni exchanged glances, trying to protest, but Dante cut them off. “I said get out. Now.”

Gianni squeezed my hand gently before letting go. “Alora, I’ll be right outside,” he murmured, though his face was lined with worry. I nodded, trying to muster a reassuring smile, even though my heart was anything but calm.

When the room emptied and it was just me and Dante, the atmosphere became even more suffocating. He stepped toward me, and I instinctively backed away, my body pressing against the wall. His face was set in a grim expression, and I could feel the chill creeping into my bones.

“Alora,” he said, his voice quiet but filled with a dangerous edge, “I don’t know if you took it or not. But if you did... you need to tell me why. Maybe you just like entire millennium.”

“I swear I didn’t,” I cried, my voice cracking. “Why would I steal anything? I just got here! I didn't even know that this existed. I am being framed. You're in the Mafia. How can you not see that?”

Dante moved so quickly that I didn’t have time to react. His hand gripped my wrist, and pain shot up my arm as his fingers dug into my skin. “Listen to me,” he hissed, his face inches from mine. “I am watching you. If I find out you had anything to do with this, you’ll regret it.”

Then he released me with a rough shove, storming out of the room. I collapsed to the floor, tears spilling from my eyes. I didn’t steal anything. Why was this happening to me? What had I done to deserve this?